A Special Christmas

The Talk

*Kevin and Claudia sit down next to each other in a church holding hands and they notice Old Man Marley*
Old Man Marley: Merry Christmas. May i sit?
There's my granddaughter up there. The little red-haired girl. She's about your age. You know her?
Kevin: No.
Claudia: Oh yeah, I know who she is her and i are friends!
*Old Man Marley smiles*
Old Man Marley: You live next to me, don't you?
You can say hello when you see me. You don't have to be afraid. There's a lot of things going around about me, but none of it's true. Okay?
Old Man Marley: Have you to been good this year?
Kevin: I think so.
Claudia: I'm positive.
Old Man Marley: You swear to it?
Kevin: No.
Old Man Marley: I had a feeling. Well, this is the place to be if you're feeling bad about yourself.
Kevin: It is?
Old Man Marley: I think so.
Kevin: Have you been feeling bad about yourself?
Claudia: Yeah are you ok?
Old Man Marley: I don't think i've been feeling bad about myself.
Kevin: I've been kind of a pain lately. I said some things I shouldn't have. I really haven't been too good this year.
Old Man Marley: Yeah.
Kevin: I'm kind of upset because I really like my family, even though sometimes I say I don't. Sometimes I even think I don't. Do you get that?
Old Man Marley: I think so. How you feel about your family is a complicated thing.
Kevin: I think so. How you feel about your family is a complicated thing.
Old Man Marley: Deep down, you'll always love him. But you can forget that you love him. You can hurt them, and they can hurt you. That's not just because you're young. You want to know the real reason why I'm here right now?
Kevin and Claudia: Sure.
Old Man Marley: I came to hear my granddaughter sing. And I can't come hear her tonight.
Kevin: You have plans?
Old Man Marley: No. I'm not welcome.
Kevin: At church?
Old Man Marley: You're always welcome at church. I'm not welcome with my son. Years back, before you and your family moved on the block, I had an argument with my son.
Kevin: How old is he?
Old Man Marley: He's grown up. We lost our tempers, and I said I didn't care to see him anymore. He said the same, and we haven't spoken to each other since.
Kevin: If you miss him, why don't you call him?
Old Man Marley: I'm afraid if I call that he won't talk to me.
Kevin: How do you know?
Old Man Marley: I don't know. I'm just afraid he won't.
Kevin: No offense, but aren't you a little old to be afraid?
Old Man Marley: You can be a little old for a lot of things. You're never too old to be afraid.
Kevin: That's true. I've always been afraid of our basement. It's dark, there's weird stuff down there, and it smells funn; that sort of thing. It's bothered me for years.
Old Man Marley: Basements are like that.
Kevin: I made myself go down to do some laundry, and I found out it's not so bad. All this time I've been worried about it, but if you turn on the lights, it's no big deal.
Old Man Marley: What's your point?
Kevin: My point is, you should call your son.
Old Man Marley: What if he won't talk to me?
Kevin: At least you'll know. Then you could stop worrying about it. Then you won't have to be afraid anymore. I don't care how mad I was, I'd talk to my dad. Especially around the holidays.
Old Man Marley: I don't know.
Kevin: Just give it a shot, for your granddaughter anyway. I'm sure she misses you, and the presents.
Old Man Marley: I send her a check.
Kevin: I wish my grandparents did that. They always send me clothes. Last year I got a sweater with a big bird knitted on it.
Old Man Marley: Oh, that's nice.
Kevin: Not for a guy in the second grade. You can get beat up for something like that.
Old Man Marley: Oh?
Kevin: Yeah. I have a friend who got nailed because there was a rumor he wore dinosaur pajamas.
Old Man Marley: You better run along home where you belong. Think about what I said. All right?
Kevin: Okay.
Old Man Marley: It's nice talking to you.
Kevin: Nice talking to you. What about you?
Old Man Marley: What about me?
Kevin: Yeah. You and your son.
Claudia: You should call him. Kevin always knows best *she smiles*
*Old Man Marley smiles back*
Old Man Marley: We'll see what happens. Merry Christmas.
Kevin: Merry Christmas.
Claudia: Merry Christmas!